Matt Apel ’96 was an All-America selection as a football wide receiver. He was named North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week after a 6-reception, 218-yard performance vs. Denison that included a 91-yard reception that tied the longest OWU pass play on record, and finished the season with 49 catches, ranking third in the NCAC and tying for third on the OWU season list, for 990 yards, leading the NCAC and setting an OWU season record, and an NCAC-leading 20.2 average. He was a first-team All-NCAC selection and was a second-team pick to the AP Little All-America and Division III SIDs All-America teams. His senior year, he piled up 217 receiving yards in the season opener vs. John Carroll, ranking fifth on the OWU single-game list. He caught 7 passes for 171 yards at Denison, including a 71-yard play from the OWU 1-yard line. He led OWU and ranked second in the NCAC with 43 catches for 756 yards, had 5 TD receptions and was a second-team all-conference pick. His career total of 92 catches ranked fifth on the OWU list, while his 1746 career receiving yards was second and his 15 career TD receptions was fourth.